Advertising through recyclable digital cameras

Abstract

Data of updated or new advertising messages are loaded into a non-volatile memory of a digital camera in the course of it being recycled. The user of the camera therefore receives the updated or new advertising messages as a part of recycling the camera. There are a number of ways the advertising message can be displayed on a picture preview screen of the camera and/or reproduced by a loudspeaker on the camera. The advertising message can either be displayed along with a picture acquired by the camera or at separate times.

1 . A method of communicating an advertising message, wherein: 
 a first entity receives payment from a second entity, the first entity in turn causing data of at least one advertising message to be incorporated into memories of recyclable hand-held digital cameras during their recycling, and    said at least one advertising message being playable by the cameras after their initialization.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual cameras are recycled a plurality of cycles, and wherein the second entity causes payment to be made to the first entity for the loading of data of an advertising message into the memories of the cameras during at least some of the plurality of cycles that is different from data of the advertising message previously present in the memories of the same cameras.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the first entity includes one or more of a group of a manufacturer of the recyclable cameras, a business that refurbishes the cameras during their recycling, a processor of the image data acquired by the cameras, and any business that distributes or sells the cameras or products of processing image data acquired by the cameras, and    the second entity is outside of said group.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one advertising message playable by the recyclable cameras does not pertain to any of the recyclable cameras themselves, to processing of the image data acquired by the recyclable cameras, or to the distribution or selling of the recyclable cameras or products of the image data processing acquired by the recyclable cameras.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one advertising message is playable by the recycled cameras immediately prior to, during or immediately following their use to acquire data of images or preview image data previously acquired by the cameras.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second entity causes payment to be made to the first entity for the loading of data of at least two advertising messages of the second entity into individual ones of the cameras, and wherein said at least two advertising messages are playable by the cameras at different times during use of the cameras.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one advertising message is in a visual or audio form.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first entity downloads the digital image data stored in the cameras, provides images from the digital image data to the camera users, erases the image data from the cameras, uploads the data of the advertisement into the memories and thereafter redistributes the cameras with advertising data but without image data to individual users for reuse to acquire and store other digital image data therein.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein incorporating data of an advertising message into memories of the recyclable cameras includes exchanging removable non-volatile memory cards from within the cameras.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the camera includes mechanisms within the individual cameras that monitors a number of times that the advertising message is played on the cameras.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first entity receives payment from the second entity in an amount based upon said number.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the advertising message is played at least in part as a visual advertising display on screens that also display images from the digital image data acquired by and stored in the cameras.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the advertising message is played at least in part by an audio reproduction device of the cameras that also reproduce audio from digital data associated with images acquired by and stored in the camera.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recycling of the cameras includes redistributing them to different users than those who previously used the individual cameras to acquire and store digital image data.  
     
     
         15 . A method of communicating at least one advertising message to individuals, wherein digital cameras are distributed to the individuals with data of the advertising message stored in memories thereof that are playable to the individuals immediately prior to, during or immediately following their use of the cameras to capture new images or to preview or manipulate previously captured images.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the data of said at least one advertising message are playable at multiple times during the use of individual ones of the cameras.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the data of said at least one advertising message include data of two or more different advertising messages that are playable at different times during the use of individual ones of the cameras.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein storage of the advertising message in the memories of the cameras is paid for by an entity that stands to benefit by the advertising.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the entity paying for storage of the advertising message is unrelated to any of a manufacturer of the camera, a processor of the image data acquired by the camera, any distributor of the camera, any retailer of the camera and those who process acquired camera image data.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the advertising message is playable at least in response to operation of the cameras by their users to delete digital data of particular images previously acquired by and stored in the cameras.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the advertising message is playable at least in response to the users requesting such presentation by actuating a user interface element provided on the cameras.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the advertising message is playable at least in part visually on a display screen of the cameras simultaneously with displays of images from the digital data previously acquired by and stored in the camera.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the advertising message is playable at least in part as sound reproduced through an audio system of the cameras.  
     
     
         24 . A method of communicating an advertising message, wherein one entity pays another entity to cause distribution of digital cameras to individuals with data stored therein that communicate to the individuals at least one advertising message on behalf of said one entity that does not advertise any of the cameras themselves, processing of the image data acquired by the cameras, or distribution or selling of the cameras or products of processing the image data acquired by the cameras.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cameras communicate said at least one advertising message to the individuals from the data stored therein immediately prior to, during or immediately following use of the cameras to capture new images or to preview or manipulate previously captured images.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cameras communicate said at least one advertising message to the individuals from the data stored therein during use of the cameras to delete digital data of particular images previously acquired by and stored in the cameras.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said at least one advertising message includes at least two advertising messages that are different and which are communicated to the individuals at different times during said use of the cameras.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said at least two advertising messages are individually reproduced by the cameras in a predefined time sequence.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said at least two advertising messages are individually reproduced by the cameras in a random time sequence.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the advertising message includes a directory of businesses local to said another entity that causes distribution of the cameras to individual users.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the data of said at least one advertising message includes a trailer of a movie.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the data of at least one advertising message are reproduced at least in part by an audio loudspeaker provided as part of the cameras.  
     
     
         33 . A method of delivering at least one advertising message to a camera user, comprising: 
 providing a digital camera with at least one non-volatile memory that stores image data of pictures taken by the camera and data of the at least one advertising message that are playable by the camera, wherein the advertising message does not advertise any of the cameras themselves, processing of the image data acquired by the cameras, or distribution or selling of the cameras or products of processing the image data acquired by the cameras, and further wherein the data of said at least one advertising message are playable by the camera immediately prior to, during or immediately following its use to capture new images or to preview or manipulate data of previously captured images, and    causing the camera to be transported to at least one business entity, which thereafter 
 accesses and downloads image data from said at least one memory of pictures taken by the camera,  
 provides pictures from the downloaded data to the camera user,  
 resets the camera for another user,  
 uploads data of at least one advertising message into said at least one memory within the reset camera, and  
 thereafter transports the camera to said another user.  
   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the data of at least one advertising message uploaded into the reset camera includes data of at least one advertising message that is different from data of an advertising message that was previously playable by the camera prior to it being reset.  
     
     
         35 . A digital camera, comprising: 
 an image acquisition device,    at least one memory storing 
 (a) data of images acquired by the image acquisition device, and  
 (b) data of at least one advertising message of a product or service unrelated to the camera, its manufacturer, a processor of the data of images acquired by the device or a distributor or seller of the camera or a product resulting from processing data of the acquired images, and  
   a processor that 
 (a) processes and stores in the memory the data of images acquired by the image acquisition device, and  
 (b) reads data of the advertising message from the memory and plays it to the user of the camera in conjunction with use of the camera.  
   
     
     
         36 . A digital camera, comprising: 
 an image acquisition device,    at least one memory storing 
 (a) data of images acquired by the image acquisition device, and  
 (c) data of at least one advertising message,  
   an image display screen,    user controls, and    a processor that 
 (c) processes and stores in the memory the data of images acquired by the image acquisition device, and  
 (d) reads data of the advertising message from the memory and plays it to the user of the camera in response to an action of the user through the user controls that causes a selected image from data in the memory to be displayed on the display screen.  
   
     
     
         37 . The digital camera of  claim 36 , wherein the processor reads data of the advertising message from the memory and plays it to the user of the camera in response an action by the user to acquire data of a new image, the new image then being automatically displayed thereafter as the selected image.  
     
     
         38 . The digital camera of  claim 36 , wherein the processor reads data of the advertising message from the memory and plays it to the user of the camera in response an action by the user to view data of the selected image that were previously acquired.  
     
     
         39 . The digital camera of  claim 36 , wherein the processor reads data of the advertising message from the memory and plays it to the user of the camera in response to an action by the user to delete data of the selected image that were previously acquired.  
     
     
         40 . A digital camera, comprising: 
 an image acquisition device, and    at least first and second memories: 
 the first memory storing data of images acquired by the image acquisition device, and  
 the second memory storing data of at least one advertising message of a product or service unrelated to the any of the camera, its manufacturer, seller or distributor, a processor of the data images acquired by the device or a product resulting from processing data of the acquired images.  
   
     
     
         41 . The camera of  claim 40 , wherein the second memory includes a memory card removably contained within the camera.  
     
     
         42 . An image data acquisition camera, comprising: 
 an imaging device that receives an image of an object field and provides digital data thereof,    at least one non-volatile memory that is programmable with the received image digital data and which stores data of at least one advertising message unrelated to the camera and any business in the camera or services related to the camera,    a human interface device, and    a processor that programs the memory with the image data as acquired by the imaging device and which reads the data of said at least one advertising message from the memory and reproduces said at least one advertising message through the human interface device.    
     
     
         43 . The camera of  claim 42 , wherein the human interface device includes a screen that visually displays at least a part of said at least one advertising message and which also displays images from the digital data of images captured by the imaging device.  
     
     
         44 . The camera of  claim 42 , wherein the processor operates to reproduce said at least one advertising message through the screen at times after initialization of the camera upon applying power thereto.  
     
     
         45 . The camera of  claim 42 , wherein the processor operates to reproduce said at least one advertising message through the screen in response to receiving a request to display an image from the digital data stored in the memory.  
     
     
         46 . The camera of  claim 42 , wherein the processor operates to reproduce said at least one advertising message through the screen in response to receiving a request to delete digital data stored in the memory that relate to an image being displayed on the screen.  
     
     
         47 . The camera of  claim 42 , wherein the processor operates to reproduce said at least one advertising message through the screen simultaneously with an image from the digital data captured by the imaging device.  
     
     
         48 . The camera of  claim 42 , wherein the processor further operates to reproduce said at least one advertising message superimposed over at least a portion of the image from the digital data captured by the imaging device.  
     
     
         49 . The camera of  claim 48 , wherein the processor additionally operates to blank out the image from the digital data captured by the imaging device in a portion thereof containing said at least one advertising message.  
     
     
         50 . The camera of  claim 48 , wherein the processor additionally operates to cause the image from the digital data captured by the imaging device to be visible through said at least one advertising message.  
     
     
         51 . The camera of  claim 50 , wherein the processor further operates to cause the image from the digital data captured by the imaging device and said at least one advertising message to both fill substantially all of the video screen.  
     
     
         52 . The camera of  claim 50 , wherein the processor further operates to cause said at least one advertising message to have motion across the screen.  
     
     
         53 . The camera of  claim 42 , wherein the memory stores data of at least two advertising messages, and wherein the processor additionally operates to reproduce the two advertising messages in time sequence.  
     
     
         54 . The camera of  claim 42 , wherein the human interface device includes an audio loudspeaker and/or a connector for external headphones, and wherein the processor additionally operates to reproduce said at least one advertising message at least in part through the audio loudspeaker and/or the headphones connector.  
     
     
         55 . The camera of  claim 54 , wherein the processor operates to reproduce said at least one advertising message through the audio loudspeaker and/or the headphones connector at times after initialization of the camera upon applying power thereto.  
     
     
         56 . The camera of  claim 54 , wherein the processor operates to reproduce said at least one advertising message through the audio loudspeaker and/or the headphones connector in response to receiving a request to display an image from the digital data stored in the camera memory.  
     
     
         57 . The camera of  claim 54 , wherein the processor operates to reproduce said at least one advertising message through the audio loudspeaker and/or the headphones connector in response to receiving a request to delete digital data stored in the camera memory that relate to an image being displayed on the screen.  
     
     
         58 . An integrated circuit chip for use in a camera, comprising: 
 an input for receiving data of images acquired by the camera,    a port for connection with a memory to write and read acquired image data therethrough and also to read data of at least one advertising message therethrough,    an output for connection with a human interface device,    an input for receiving an external operating command to send data of acquired images through the output for connection with the human interface device, and    a processor that causes the advertising message data and acquired image data to be read through the memory port and sent through the output for connection with the human interface device in response to receipt of the command to send data of at least one acquired image through the output for connection with the human interface device.    
     
     
         59 . An integrated circuit chip for use in a camera, comprising: 
 an input for receiving audio data associated with images acquired by the camera,    a port for connection with a memory to write and read acquired audio data therethrough and also to read audio data of at least one advertising message therethrough,    at least one output for connection with a sonic human interface device and a visual human interface device,    an input for receiving an external operating command to send data of acquired images through the at least one output for connection with the visual human interface device, and    a processor that causes the advertising message data to be read through the memory port and sent through the at least one output for connection with the sonic human interface device in response to receipt of the command to send data of at least one acquired image through the at least one output for connection with the visual human interface device.    
     
     
         60 . The integrated circuit chip of  claim 59 , wherein the processor additionally causes the advertising message data to be read through the memory port and sent through the at least one output for connection with the sonic human interface device simultaneously with the receipt of the command to send data of acquired images through the at least one output for connection with the visual human interface device.  
     
     
         61 . The integrated circuit chip of  claim 59 , wherein the processor additionally causes the advertising message data to be read through the memory port and sent through the at least one output for connection with the sonic human interface device subsequent to the receipt of the command to send data of acquired images through the at least one output for connection with the visual human interface device.  
     
     
         62 . An integrated circuit chip for use in a camera, comprising: 
 an input that receives data of images acquired by the camera,    a port for connection with a memory to write and read acquired image data therethrough and also to read data of at least one advertising message therethrough,    an output for connection with a visual display screen, and    a processor that causes the advertising message data and acquired image data to be read through the memory port and sent through the output for connection with the visual display screen in a manner that an image acquired by the camera and an advertising message will be simultaneously displayed on a visual display screen connected with the output.    
     
     
         63 . An integrated circuit chip for use in a camera, comprising: 
 an input that receives data of images acquired by the camera,    a port for connection with a memory to write and read acquired image data therethrough and also to read data of at least one advertising message therethrough,    an output for connection with a visual display screen, and    a processor that causes the advertising message data and acquired image data to be read through the memory port and sent through the output for connection with the visual display screen in a manner that an image acquired by the camera and an advertising message will be sequentially displayed on a visual display screen connected with the output.